Save the Guinea Worm Foundation. WTF?

[johnaries]

Thanks to a posting here on DU that actually contained a LINK (which seems to be a rarity these days), I read about the Carter Foundation's efforts to eradicate a major human parasite just by filtering drinking water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracunculiasis

I wanted to learn more about it, so I Googled "guinea worm" and stumbled across this:

http://www.deadlysins.com/guineaworm/index.htm

Let's put this into perspective. On the one hand, we have a "Leftist" group working to make life better for millions of people and eradicate a human parasite that has caused human suffering with no apparent benefits to the eco-system for recorded thousands of years.

On the other hand, we have another "Leftist" group trying to "save" the parasite in the name of "bio-diversity". Even though we have carefully studied the life cycle and there is no evidence that this parasite provides any positive impact on the eco-system. In fact, it has been eradicated in several eco-systems and the results have been quite positive.

This is why so many people vilify the "Left". Because those of us who are serious Liberals and/or Progressives who are seeking real, serious improvement have allowed crazy fringe groups to be identified with more serious groups.

I am a Liberal and a Progressive. But I am not a member of PETA, I am not a radical Vegan who insists no one should eat meat (I believe it's a personal choice), I am not a member of ELF although I support environmental issues, and I support bio-diversity although I certainly do not support saving the Guinea Worm.

I AM a Leftist. I AM a Liberal. I AM a Progressive. I WILL NOT let someone else tell me that I am not because I don't fit into their own personal pigeon-hole.

I WILL NOT allow someone else to define me.

[NutmegYankee]

1. People want to save the Guinea Worm!? Holy F!

Maybe they should build there own private lake and infect themselves with them. God what a horrible cause.

[applegrove]

2. I would love to find out how they are funded.

[saras]

3. I think you just got Onioned

They're rather reminiscent of the Landover Baptists.

[Recovered Repug]

5. It does have a

"Ban dihydrogen monoxide in our drinking water" feel to it.

[hughee99]

4. When there are two competing interest groups, one of them

need not even be a fringe group. Look at immigration. You can find "leftist" groups looking to protect American jobs and supporting certain immigration policies, and other "leftist" groups looking to provide more access for undocumented workers to the US job market.

Yes, that someone is looking to save the guinea worm is pretty fucked up though. I wonder if there's any group looking to save the Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis (the bacteria that causes leprosy).

[petronius]

6. Too funny! (And clearly a joke)

Especially love the bit about the brave volunteers who sign on to host worms... :rofl:

On edit: This page is worth a look too...

[Electric Monk]

7. r u serious?

lol